Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman Bozeman, MT Next Generation Pastor Opportunity Profile July 2018 The time is right for the Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman (http://www.efcb.org) in Bozeman, Montana to welcome a relationally driven and gifted Next Generation (Next Gen) Pastor to join their team as they look to strategically build on a solid foundation for even greater ministry impact. OVERVIEW The Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman (E-Free) is emerging from a season of transition, healthy organizational restructuring, and looking forward with hope and excitement to what the future will hold. Over the course of the past year, the church has pursued an organized churchwide focus on discipleship, and hired a full-time Discipleship Pastor to spearhead these efforts. This spotlight has caused a positive influx of energy and momentum for this church of 700 as the vision for greater discipleship comes to life. Offering three worship services on Sunday mornings at 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m., you ll find services that are relationally warm and casual with a focus on biblical teaching and a 1
contemporary style of worship. Lead Teaching Pastor, Jim Keena, who has served at E-Free for the last 10 years, partners with a healthy and engaged Elder Board to lead the church forward in meaningful ministry. Childcare is available during services, with Sunday school for children, students and adults from 9:45 10:45 a.m. The purpose statement of E-Free is to lead people of all ages and stages to real transformation in Christ. This is a phrase that is repeated often, is well known throughout the congregation, and successfully defines why they exist. The church is rarely empty and often abuzz with activity not just on Sundays, but also throughout the week. Children s ministry offers Awana on Mondays, Montana State s Cru ministry holds its large group gathering at the church on Wednesdays, while Youth and Adult Life Groups meet both in homes and at the church throughout the week. Over the course of the last few years, the leadership structure has changed as the church has encountered various complexities. Departments felt siloed, some poor hires were made and a lack of staff unity was threatening to derail ministry on a number of levels. Leadership wisely recognized and acknowledged this was not a sustainable environment. Through a season of exploration, conversation and hard work, the church gained clarity regarding the unique giftedness of the pastoral staff. A decision was made to modify the organizational structure and adopt a more shared model of leadership. This positive change has fostered an increase in health and greatly improved the climate within the church. Greater understanding of, and appreciation for, individual ministry giftedness has lent itself to better staff relationships. Existing elder board member, John Graves, became the Staff Team Leader and is now responsible for team development, ministry staff meetings, and ensuring clear lines of communication. Discipleship Pastor Dan Miller also joined the E-Free team last fall and is championing the efforts to move people into deeper discipleship. These positive adjustments have allowed staff to lead and serve more naturally from their sweet spots, bringing a healthier and more collaborative approach to ministry. In light of these improvements, E-Free finds itself in a refreshed season and is primed for the right person to join them, lead in the key area of Next Generation ministries, and build momentum around strategic ministry opportunities. THE OPPORTUNITY E-Free is enthusiastically looking forward to welcoming a Next Gen Pastor to become fully invested into its culture, to lead people of all ages and stages to real transformation in Christ, with an intentional focus on how this mission is lived out and accomplished amongst the next generation. As the church continues to develop a culture of disciple-making, the intentional pursuit and goal of biblical discipleship being accomplished from birth through high school (and beyond) will be one of the primary focal points for this incoming Next Gen Pastor. This new leader has the opportunity to provide coaching, direction and leadership in the areas of Children and Youth, and to provide oversight for the staff directors that have direct responsibilities in those areas. Investing in and casting a vision for the future, embracing a holistic approach to next generation ministries, and partnering with Discipleship Pastor Dan Miller to implement a culture of discipleship to this segment of the congregation are just some of the exciting elements this next pastor will be called upon to lead with excellence. Recently, a new Children s Ministry Director, Liz Stomprud, joined the E-Free staff team, and congregants are excited and eager to work with this new leader as ministry plans begin to unfold. Kyle Blackmore, who grew up at the church, is currently leading the Student Ministry. In addition to 2
his responsibilities as the part-time Youth Ministries Director and the IT Director, Kyle is also the part-time Camp Agape Operations Director. Camp Agape (campagapebozeman.com) is a summer day camp that was birthed out of E-Free by a previous Youth Pastor, reaches about 350 students in the area, and in many ways has become synonymous with youth ministry at E-Free. While there are many positives to this ministry partnership (intentional outreach, students hearing the Gospel that wouldn t otherwise be at church, etc.), other students and families that call E-Free home (that are not involved with Camp Agape) have not felt a resonance with this approach to student ministry. While many fun activities are scheduled (hiking, rafting, camping) and student small groups continue to meet throughout the year, the Sunday morning programming, clear pathways to involvement, and ministry programming outside of Camp Agape s footprint are minimal. Students that are not involved with or connected to Camp Agape often seek out student ministries at other churches. This approach has generated some healthy self-reflection, such as: is this the best approach to student ministry? Does this ministry philosophy ultimately align with the overall vision of the church? How does E-Free cultivate a youth ministry environment that students both in and out of the church find compelling? These are all questions that will be on the plate of the incoming Next Gen Pastor in collaboration with other staff and the Elders as this new leader joins the E-Free team. This strategically minded, energetic and highly relational Next Gen leader will have the privilege to partner with Discipleship Pastor Dan Miller. Dan provides a wealth of wisdom, friendship, support and collaboration in ministry, that the right Next Gen Pastor will recognize as a valuable resource and lean into Dan s giftedness. In addition to providing effective leadership for the children and student ministry directors, staff and volunteers, this Next Gen Pastor will serve as a catalyst for a new and exciting season of ministry to students and kids. The right leader will bring a refreshed vision and a new ministry structure for the next generation that will produce growth, both spiritually and numerically, and deeper levels of discipleship across the ministry landscape. Relationships are important in any church and E-Free is no exception. Taking the time to learn people s stories, with the opportunity to encourage and guide others on their spiritual journey, will energize the ideal pastor. The phrase People don t care how much you know until they know how much you care is true here. Warmth, authenticity and transparency will go a long way in drawing people into relationship and community at the Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman. The church building is strategically located on the main drag in Bozeman, just a stone s throw from the Montana State University campus, and the directors of MSU s Cru and InterVarsity ministries attend the church. There is a tremendous opportunity to strategically engage the hundreds of college students that call E-Free home during the school year. Bozeman is a gorgeous college town surrounded by mountains on all sides, and serves as a recreation destination with internationally acclaimed fishing, hiking, skiing and camping. In recent years, Bozeman's draw has gone beyond its natural beauty, as the town s economy and population are booming. According the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bozeman area is the fastest growing community in the nation for populations under 50,000. Tourism and the high-tech industry are making a big splash, while families and businesses are relocating from larger metro areas such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Denver. Bozeman is second in the state for business growth and some of its largest employers are Montana State University, Oracle, Zoot Enterprises (a leader in the financial technology industry), Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, and the Bozeman Public School District, which is a nationally recognized public school system. Bozeman s high quality of living attracts and retains excellent employees who enjoy the area's unique recreational opportunities and cultural amenities that exceed cities twice its size. Bozeman is a wonderful place to live, work, and play. 3
THE CANDIDATE Above all, the right Next Gen Pastor for E-Free will love Jesus more than anything and model that love to others in everyday life. This pastor will want children and students to encounter the love of God and experience the power of the Holy Spirit in meaningful ways. Authenticity is a high value here, so a leader who is appropriately transparent, highly relational and naturally outgoing will be the right fit for E-Free. This leader will confidently initiate relationships with others, easily connect with a wide variety of people, and lovingly invite the next generation and their families to get involved and take next steps in their faith journey, wherever they may be. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and a keen understanding of best practices (and how to best integrate them effectively), the ideal candidate will know how to take Next Gen ministries at E-Free to the next level. Developing teams and structures will be a strategic value-add and a critical need for this role. With an understanding of and experience in how to best implement clear methods to measure impact and evaluate results, this leader will be able to point to meaningful growth in a variety of ways (student and children involvement, parental training, rhythms of equipping for families and volunteers, greater overall engagement, greater volunteer recruitment, discipleship metrics, spiritual milestones, etc.). The right candidate will be prayerful and humble, yet secure enough in the gifts God has given him to work closely with Discipleship Pastor Dan Miller, while also building and launching Next Gen ministries successfully. As he settles into the church community, this individual will take the time to get to know the church family, connect with students, love on kids, win the trust of parents, and lead the Next Gen staff with effectiveness and impact. Being successful in this position takes a high level of relational intelligence, so it is essential that the selected candidate effectively engage individuals, taking the time to listen, and inviting feedback as plans take shape. This individual knows how to connect easily with others while also possessing the ability to recruit and motivate volunteers in a manner that produces energy and excitement around initiatives geared toward the next generation. Easy to laugh and fun to be around, this Next Gen Pastor will draw people in through a warm personality and an appropriately relaxed approach, while at the same time instilling confidence and trust from parents, staff and volunteers through clear subject matter expertise in Next Gen ministries. As one elder described the current state of the ministry at E-Free: We have made the necessary overhauls and changes. We are now heading down the runway and with a few tweaks and the right people in place we are ready to take off! This indeed, is the case, and with the right leader to join this energized and refreshed church, the ministry at E-Free looks exciting and bright! Preferred Candidate Qualifications: Bachelors degree from a Christian college minimum; Masters preferred 3-5 years of experience with demonstrated capacity for growing ministries Theologically aligned with the EFCA High emotional and relational intelligence Experience in a multi-staff setting, with a preference and motivation for a team dynamic in the workplace Relationally driven 4
Inquiry Process: If after reading this description you have interest in the Next Gen Pastor position at Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman, and you feel you meet the qualifications for the role, you are invited to submit the following information for consideration: 1) Your resume or CV (in Word format only) 2) A current headshot photo, a family photo and a brief family bio 3) The results of any personal assessments you have completed (StrengthsFinder; DiSC; Meyers-Briggs, etc.). 4) Five references (one supervisor, two peer, one subordinate, and one of your choice). These references will be contacted later in the process with your prior approval. 5) Written responses to the following questions (prepared and attached in a Word document). We believe that one can learn only so much from a resume. Your responses will help us to gain a more complete picture of you and your leadership. Please attach written answers to the following questions (in a Word document). 1. Describe your faith in Jesus Christ. Tell us how you came to personal faith and something about your journey into ministry. 2. What is it about the opportunity at E-Free that attracts you to this position? 3. What philosophies, values and experiences guide and shape your approach to next gen ministry? 4. What are two or three of your core strengths? Please share two or three examples of how you used your strengths to innovate, revitalize or elevate a ministry you have led. 5. What are the key factors that you believe should be present in your next church and ministry in order for you to be most effective? Please submit your information to: Jamie Sipsma Senior Consultant NL Moore & Associates jamie@nlmoore.com 410.262.8313 5